Best way to take samples from FV?

[puravida]

I use a turkey baster dipped or spritzed in star-san to take samples from the FV.
Anyone got a better method??

 

[RobWalker]

thats about the best way, you can use a Wine Thief which is a glorified turkey baster.
other than that, get an FV with a tap, really takes the ballache out!

 

[Mark1964]

we just sterilise a hydrometer and drop it in. Or a baster if taking a samle out the fv

 

[graysalchemy]

Put a tap on the bottom Also saves on that siphoning malarkey.

 

[RobWalker]

Put a tap on the bottom Also saves on that siphoning malarkey.

I wouldn't do that :s perfect way to expose it to oxygen imo...

 

[graysalchemy]

Why?

I can empty a fv into another one with out any splashing just like you would if you siphoned it. Because it goes through a long tube as per siphoning.

 

[Mark1964]

yep your right it wont introduce any oxygen into the fermenter as the tap is at the bottom :thumb:

 

[graysalchemy]

Thanks Mark I thought I was missing something.

I have been doing it for years and never had a problem. But experience seems to count for nothing on this site at the moment.

 

[alanywiseman.]

If you use a tap do you not need to open the FV at the top anyway or you will build up negative pressure causing air to travel up the tap? :hmm:

I dont use a tap at the moment but am planning on attaching one to a FV to make bottling easier.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I just dip a clean glass into the brew to get a sample, if it looks clear after 10-14 days and tastes o.k I bottle or keg.

BB

 

[calumscott]

Yes air comes in the top when you open the tap but the idea is that the protective layer of CO2 just sinks with the beer, continuing to protect it right to the bottom.

That would be a more controlled environment than opening the lid to start a syphon.


For sampling my FVs with no tap (yup, still haven't got round to it!) I use a sterilised (chuck a kettle of boiling water at it) ladle.

 

[artiums_enteri]

I'm confused how the tap on the bottom can introduce oxygen. I think a plastic fermenter would allow more oxygen through the pours than a stainless ball valve.

Both of my stainless conicals have two ball valves on them. This not only makes it very easy to take samples during the fermentation process, but also to harvest yeast without disturbing the beer.

The ball valves allow the entire conical to be air tight so I can brew under 3psi of pressure. I can also force carbonate while I transfer to a keg by attaching C02 to one of the valves and a keg
Runoff hose to the other. The whole container would have to be air tight in order to accomplish that.

The only concern with valves is sanitation. I would never use any type of plastic valve in my fermenter (or a plastic fermenter, but that's just me.) the valves should be stainless ball valves with stainless dip tubes attached to the inside. This way even after you draw a sample you can take the little bottle of star-San and spray the valve inside and out not having to worry about microbes gathering on the beer that didn't get cleaned off. Of course clean any beer resting in the valve after you draw your sample with a Q-tip and warm water.

 

[alanywiseman.]

Cheers for that calum. I will need to add the tap.

 

[RobWalker]

No need to get ansy - most fvs come with normal taps, nobody mentioned anything about attaching a syphon to it ;-)

 

[graysalchemy]

You shouldn't just presume that I am so stupid not to use a few feet of tubing.

 

[Pinck]

I find the best way to take samples from a FV is with a straw, but in a pinch I'll swish some whiskey around in my mouth to sanitize, then drink straight from the carboy :thumb:

 

[johnnie]

Sorry to jump in on this topic guys, but I've been meaning to ask this, although it may be a bit of a stupid question. If you take a sample from the top (say with a baster), and a sample from the bottom (tap), will the readings be the same? Or will sugars drop to the bottom and give a higher reading? Like I said it's a stupid question.

 

[simonkidder]

Anyone ever just sterilised a hydrometer and left it in the FV from start to finish?

 

[RobWalker]

Well ive certainly learnt my lesson :!:

Johnnie, it should be fine from either, you would only take it post fermentation amyway and all the crap will be in the trub - you only really run that risk when starting a kit/extract beer due to not mixing properly. I dont bother with og eeading to be honest, just fg to see when its finished.

 

[Mark1964]

Sorry to jump in on this topic guys, but I've been meaning to ask this, although it may be a bit of a stupid question. If you take a sample from the top (say with a baster), and a sample from the bottom (tap), will the readings be the same? Or will sugars drop to the bottom and give a higher reading? Like I said it's a stupid question.

If you dissolve all the sugar in the brew when making it then it will be in the liquid and cannot drop tothe bottom. So the hydrometer readings would be the same